Featured

Related Stories

By Tom J Doyle

The 56-year-old has admitted injuries to influential players have left his team struggling, but hopes the depleted squad can still fire the Cottagers to victory at Anfield

Fulham manager Martin Jol admits injuries have left his midfield in ruins ahead of Saturday's trip to Liverpool, but insists the Cottagers can still pick up a positive result at Anfield.

After a bright start to the current campaign, the west London side has recorded only one win from nine Premier League games, and slumped to a disappointing loss against QPR last weekend.

However, despite the absence of players such as Mahamadou Diarra, Bryan Ruiz, Steve Davies and Steve Sidwell through injury and supension, Jol still believes his team can trouble Brendan Rodgers' side.

"We have got a problem in midfield, everyone can see that," he told reporters. "We need the points and we need the players. Hopefully next week my better players are back, Diarra and Bryan Ruiz, before that we have to try and get a result against Liverpool.

"We were looking fine but we always knew the reality of life - if you would have told me in July that five of my best players in midfield are missing I would worry."

Jol admits he needs to find a remedy for the club's poor performances while taking into consideration how he can build a strong midfield, despite options being thin on the ground.

"It is about winning games so if we can pull a few games together and have a few wins we will be fine again - but we need to come up with solutions and results," he added.

"The only one who is there [in midfield] is Chris Baird and he is a defender, we have trained this week and tried to do a certain shape with certain players and we still have the players to do a job."

And while Fulham is only five points clear of the relegation places, the Dutchman believes getting a fit squad back is his primary concern.

"A lot of managers in the Premier League will tell you they need 40 points as soon as possible," he continued. "There are so many points to gain and so many games to play, I would be worried if we were in the bottom three but now my first worry is the [injured] players and getting them back."

Jol also warns his side can no longer rely on the brilliance of Dimitar Berbatov alone, and must work together against Liverpool to take three crucial points.

"You can't rely on one player," he insisted. "So hopefully in the next game we will come up with a good result and after that we will have more options."

Follow GOAL.COM on

Does this article fire you up? Comment below and your opinion could be featured in the Boost Mobile Hot Topics published every Thursday. Click here for more details.